This hotel is perfectly located for the Yokohama Bay area, it's also very well connected to numerous transport links. It was
We stayed in a number of Toyoko Inn hotels in Japan and the following applies to them all:
Toyoko Inns are a chain of business hotels throughout Japan (and a handful overseas). They particularly try to appeal to women (who get a free health and beauty gift on check in, and special discounts for last minute/late night bookings). They are great value for money, especially if you get a membership card.
Rooms: Compared to many other countries, hotel rooms in Japan are SMALL, and Toyoko Inn are no exception. A standard double has aircon, a double bed (queen/160cm), a writing desk, kettle, fridge, and a small clothes storage area which could be anything from a small closet to a hanging rack on the wall. The one big advantage Toyoko Inn has over similar chains is a tiny detail that makes a huge practical difference: The bed is raised high enough that you can store a suitcase underneath it. It sounds trivial, but I've stayed in rooms where we ended up putting the suitcase in the bath because there was literally nowhere else to put it.
The standard doubles are small but functional and very well thought out. Economy doubles are even smaller with a 'standard' 140cm double bed.
They also have a room set-up that I haven't seen elsewhere, the business twin. These have 2 twin (110cm) beds, but the bathroom is in the centre of the room, almost dividing it into 2 separate rooms. It's a great idea if you have to share with someone but want a little more privacy.
There are smoking and no smoking rooms. A couple of times we had to book smoking rooms because the no smoking rooms were full. As smoking rooms go, they were OK, definitely fine for a couple of nights. (We've stayed in other hotels where the smoking rooms smelled so bad even one night was a struggle).
Toiletries: As it particularly caters to last minute business bookings they provide everything you need for an impromptu overnight stay. As well as the usual toiletries, they also have combs, razors, toothbrushes, paste and nightwear. Nightwear is sometimes provided in the room, otherwise it will be in a 'disinfecting closet' in the lobby area.
Laundry: They also provide self-serve laundry facilities (washers 200y, dryers 100y/30m, powder 30y). Generally, only the lightest clothes will be dry after one 30 min cycle in the dryer. You can either put stuff back in for a second round, or hang it in your room to finish off. There is usually a retractable washing line over the bath tub.
Computers: There is free wifi in the rooms, and usually a computer and printer in the lobby area, which are free to use. Handy for printing out boarding passes! However, as it's all in Japanese, you may need to ask for help with it.
Maps: There is a bank of little cards in the lobby, one for each branch in the chain. These have the hotel details and a map on them, all in Japanese. They are really useful if you are staying at several branches, as you can just get the card for your next hotel before you leave. They are also ideal if you need to take a taxi to your hotel.
Food: They all have a couple of drinks vending machines and water dispenser in the lobby or dining area plus a microwave so you can reheat conbini food. The larger hotels have a separate dining area for breakfast, the smaller hotels just serve it in the lobby. Breakfast is free, Japanese style and varies both from day to day and hotel to hotel in terms of quantity and quality. You should at least always be able to get coffee and a bread roll and something rice based.
Staff: Staff are really helpful, but rarely speak much English.
Reservations: You can make reservations online. There is an English version of the site, though it can take a little practice to figure it out. Bookings can be amended or cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before, so it's worth booking as soon as you can, as popular hotels book up quickly. You don't pay anything in advance, only at check-in.
If you are staying more than 1 night, you will be offered the eco plan when you reserve. This gives you a 300 y discount in return for your room only being cleaned every other day instead of daily. You still get fresh towels every day.
Membership and discounts: You can become a member for 1,500y. This is well worth doing if you are going to stay a few nights with them. You get a 300y discount on the base price, plus additional discounts on certain days. After every 10 stays you get a voucher for a free night (the price of a single room, you have to pay the difference for a double, etc). It also gives you access to members only room quotas on the website. Finally, it gives you the option of early (3pm check-in).
You can only join in-person at a hotel, but you can join as soon as you arrive. You will get the discounts immediately, even if you reserved as a non-member, but you must join before you check-in. Once you have your membership number you can add it to your online account and the discount will automatically be added to your future reservations. However, you still must show the membership card at check in. (At hotels with key cards your membership card is also your room key).
